Gallium is an element found in the body, but it occurs in a very small amounts. For example, in a person with a mass of seventy kilograms, there are 0.7 milligrams of gallium in the body.

It has no proven benefit towards the function of the body, and it most likely is only present due to small traces in the natural environment, in water, and in residue on vegetables and fruits.

Pure gallium is not a harmful substance for humans to touch. It has been handled many times only for the simple pleasure of watching it melt by the heat emitted from a human hand. However, it is known to leave a stain on hands. Even the gallium radioactive compound, gallium [⁶⁷Ga] citrate, can be injected into the body and used for gallium scanning without harmful effects.

Although it is not harmful in small amounts, gallium should not be purposefully consumed in large doses. Some gallium compounds can actually be very dangerous, however. For example, acute exposure to gallium(III) chloride can cause throat irritation, difficulty breathing, chest pain, and its fumes can cause even very serious conditions such as pulmonary oedema and partial paralysis